Temple of Amenhotep IV

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The Temple of Amenhotep IV at Karnak in Luxor, Egypt, was constructed during the first four years of the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, when he still referred to himself as Amenhotep IV.

It was constructed outside the boundaries of the Precinct of Amon-Re, to the east. The main temple was named Gm–p3–itn (Gempaaten), which means "The Sun Disc is Found in the Estate of the God Aten". The others were named Hwt–bnbn (Hwt benben / "The Mansion of the Benben Stone"), Rwd–mnw–n–itn–r–nhh (Rud-menu / "Sturdy are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever"), and Tni–mnw–n–itn–r–nhh (Teni–menu / "Exalted are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever").

Very little of these buildings remains, they were built quickly, using Talatat blocks, and could therefore easily be demolished and reused as core for later structures.

1 Gempaaten
2 Hwt benben
3 Rud–menu
4 Teni–menu
5 Further reading

[edit] Gempaaten

The Gempaaten appears to have no roof and its offering tables were exposed to direct sunlight. In this building (or associated with it) were red granite and sandstone statues of Akhenaten, red granite offering tables and other statues, including a sphinx inscribed with the name of the Aten.